“Dr. Reyna is a dedicated teacher and this recognition is well-deserved,” said Dr. Tim Knight, dean of Ouachita’s J.D. Patterson School of Natural Sciences. “He is constantly trying new ideas, especially in lab, and this benefits the Ouachita student’s tremendously.”

The program, funded in part by the National Science Foundation and sponsored by the American Society for Microbiology, is a model for transforming undergraduate biology education. According to its website, biologyscholars.org, its mission is “to empower biologists to be leaders in science education reform and catalyze professional societies to sustain undergraduate education reform.”

This program typically accepts only 15 to 20 participants each year. The application process includes a series of essays, examples of current teaching practices and participation in summer workshops related to class development.

“The actual application process took a few weeks,” Reyna noted, “but you could say it took several years to develop the material that allowed me to be accepted into the program.”

The yearlong program begins with a weeklong trip to the American Society for Microbiology national office in Washington, D.C. After that, Reyna will conduct video conferences using a genetics class and a synthetic biology lab as his case studies. “My hope is to develop new teaching material and ideas that will make these better classes,” he explained.

“My plan is to use the information developed and learned from this program in all of my classes at OBU,” he added. “My goal is to make OBU the best university possible and make sure our students are well prepared when they graduate. I am very competitive, and I want to see every student at OBU excel in the future.”

For more information, contact Dr. Nathan Reyna at reynan@obu.edu or (870) 245-5240.

By Clair Childers

]]>http://www.obu.edu/news/2015/05/09/obu-faculty-member-nathan-reyna-accepted-into-biology-scholars-program/feed/0Ouachita junior Jesse Kitchens earns third place in statewide science competitionhttp://www.obu.edu/news/2015/05/09/ouachita-junior-jesse-kitchens-earns-third-place-in-statewide-science-competition/
http://www.obu.edu/news/2015/05/09/ouachita-junior-jesse-kitchens-earns-third-place-in-statewide-science-competition/#commentsSat, 09 May 2015 18:28:04 +0000http://www.obu.edu/news/?p=7967read more →]]>Ouachita Baptist University junior Jesse Kitchens earned third place in the biology category of the annual Arkansas Academy of Science competition. Kitchens received a $50 cash prize with the award for his oral presentation of his research. The meeting and competition, held recently at Henderson State University, included about 180 participants from colleges and universities throughout Arkansas.

Kitchens’ presentation, “Expression Analysis of an Insect Glucose Oxidase Transgene in Tobacco,” delved into the fields of ecology and genetics. “My project’s goal was to study the signaling pathways and defense mechanisms associated with oxidative stress in plants,” explained Kitchens, a junior biology major from Lewisville, Ark. “I have always enjoyed working with plants. The idea of mixing that hobby with my love of genetics made [the research program] an opportunity I had to take.”

Ouachita’s J.D. Patterson School of Natural Sciences emphasizes undergraduate research for all of its students. It makes research opportunities readily available, allowing students to explore the subjects they are most passionate about and gain professional experience.

“Almost all of our biology/chemistry majors will do research and present their work off campus,” said Dr. Nathan Reyna, associate professor of biology at OBU and Kitchens’ faculty advisor. “This experience is very valuable and is recognized by graduate schools and medical schools.

“Additionally, the fact we presented off campus and our project was recognized for its quality shows the quality of our student-driven projects,” he added. “Often people see undergraduate research as not real research. We have demonstrated this is far from true.”

Abby Fain, a senior biology major from Camden, Ark., also attended the meeting and presented a poster in the competition. Dr. Jess Kelly, assistant professor of biology at OBU, co-hosted the event with faculty from Henderson State University.

For more information, contact Dr. Nathan Reyna at reynan@obu.edu or (870) 245-5240.

By Anna Hurst

]]>http://www.obu.edu/news/2015/05/09/ouachita-junior-jesse-kitchens-earns-third-place-in-statewide-science-competition/feed/0Ouachita student research published in “eLife” science journalhttp://www.obu.edu/news/2015/05/09/ouachita-student-research-published-in-elife-science-journal/
http://www.obu.edu/news/2015/05/09/ouachita-student-research-published-in-elife-science-journal/#commentsSat, 09 May 2015 18:23:06 +0000http://www.obu.edu/news/?p=7965read more →]]>More than 60 Ouachita Baptist University biology students conducted research over the past four years that has been published in eLife, an international science journal. The research was conducted as part of a program known as SEA-PHAGES (Science Education Alliance-Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science). Undergraduate students from several universities contributed to the phage discovery and sequencing project and are listed as supplemental authors in the eLife publication.

“As a SEA-PHAGES school, we participate with a network of colleges and universities to offer an independent guided research experience to our students,” explained Dr. Ruth Plymale, assistant professor of biology at OBU. “This research experience provides our students with a sense of ownership and confidence as they discover a new mycobacteriophage and learn characteristics about their phage that no one else knows.”

As a student finds and characterizes a mycobacteriophage, that phage’s information is recorded on a national database. Students and faculty can use this deposited information to compare and contrast large numbers of mycobacteriohpages, looking for large-scale patterns and overall relationships. After leaders of the SEA-PHAGES program analyze the results, the findings are reported in eLife.

“College is often seen as a way to learn content and that will allow you to be a professional in the future,” said Dr. Nathan Reyna, associate professor of biology at OBU. “However, we have changed this approach and are now teaching students how to be a scientist by actually working as a scientist in their classes.”

John Givler, a senior biology major from Monroe, La., is one of the students who participated in the research. “This experience was the first time that I felt like I contributed to the world of science instead of just learning about it,” he said. “Learning techniques and information alongside personal research and discovery was an amazing opportunity as an undergraduate.”

“I am very proud of our students and of Ouachita,” Reyna added. “The whole concept of how we are now doing labs is unique, and our students have adjusted well and succeeded beyond my expectations. Additionally, the administration in the department, including Dr. Tim Knight and Dr. Lori Hensley, has been highly supportive of this project.”

For more information about the SEA-PHAGES program, contact Dr. Ruth Plymale at plymaler@obu.edu or (870) 245-5081 or Dr. Nathan Reyna at reynan@obu.edu or (870) 245-5240.

By McKenzie Cranford

]]>http://www.obu.edu/news/2015/05/09/ouachita-student-research-published-in-elife-science-journal/feed/0Ouachita honors student achievements at annual Academic Awards Banquethttp://www.obu.edu/news/2015/05/08/academic-awards-2015/
http://www.obu.edu/news/2015/05/08/academic-awards-2015/#commentsFri, 08 May 2015 16:52:32 +0000http://www.obu.edu/news/?p=7917read more →]]>More than 100 students from Ouachita Baptist University were recently honored at the university’s 2015 Academic Awards Banquet. The event recognized various academic and leadership achievements of the students throughout the past academic year.

The annual banquet is sponsored by Ouachita’s Student Senate. Student Senate President Josh Rubin, a junior biology major from Dallas, Texas, presided over the event.

Dustin Walter, a senior biology and chemistry double major from Marion, Ark., was awarded Ouachita’s highest academic honor as the university’s Overall Academic Achiever. He also was named top academic achiever in the J.D. Patterson School of Natural Sciences, the Outstanding Senior in Biology and the Outstanding Graduate in Chemistry and was recognized as a Blue Ribbon Finisher in the Carl Goodson Honors Program.

Top academic achievers in each of the other schools include: Erin Wilson, a senior business administration/marketing and management major from Hot Springs Village, Ark., Hickingbotham School of Business; Blake Kutter, a senior Christian studies/Biblical studies major from England, Ark., Pruet School of Christian Studies; Emily Payne, a senior kinesiology and leisure studies/recreation and sports ministry major from Mena, Ark., Huckabee School of Education; Cami Willis, a senior musical theatre and church media/production arts double major from Flower Mound, Texas, School of Fine Arts; Sophie DeMuth, a senior speech communication and Christian studies/Christian missions and Biblical studies triple major from Rockwall, Texas, School of Humanities; and Kevin Jackson, a senior history major from Milton, Fla., Sutton School of Social Sciences.

Ouachita’s Senior Outstanding Man and Woman, selected by faculty and staff, are Baronger Bieger, an English and biology double major from Rockwall, Texas, and Hannah Diaz, a history and Christian studies/Christian missions double major from West Monroe, La.

Dr. Stacy Freeman, associate professor of dietetics, was named by students as the Lavell Cole Most Inspirational Professor.

Other university awards include the Mrs. J.R. Grant Endowed Awards for freshman and senior female students and the Mrs. Betty Oliver Grant Endowed Awards for sophomore and junior female students. Recipients of these awards include Madi Polk, a freshman kinesiology major from Wylie, Texas; Emily Weeden, a sophomore worship arts major from Rogers, Ark.; Bonnie Magee, a junior accounting major from Conway, Ark.; and Kasey McLeane, a senior accounting and business administration/finance double major from Camden, Ark.

The Rotary Club Service-Above-Self Award was presented to Kristopher Torres, a freshman Christian studies/Christian missions major from Magnolia, Ark.

]]>http://www.obu.edu/news/2015/05/08/academic-awards-2015/feed/0Ouachita students honored at American Chemical Society National Meetinghttp://www.obu.edu/news/2015/04/16/ouachita-students-honored-at-american-chemical-society-national-meeting/
http://www.obu.edu/news/2015/04/16/ouachita-students-honored-at-american-chemical-society-national-meeting/#commentsThu, 16 Apr 2015 14:36:53 +0000http://www.obu.edu/news/?p=7869read more →]]>Four students from Ouachita Baptist University earned the “Speak Simply” award in the Undergraduate Research Poster Contest at the recent American Chemical Society (ACS) national meeting in Denver. A total of 13 students from Ouachita’s J.D. Patterson School of Natural Sciences presented work at the conference.

“Participating in off-campus meetings, especially regional or national conferences, is a great experience for our students,” said Dr. Tim Knight, dean of OBU’s Patterson School. “Being recognized by their peers in a national conference confirms the quality of work conducted by both our students and their faculty mentors.”

Approximately 1,200 undergraduates from across the nation were eligible to compete in the contest and of those presenting, only 15 students were recognized. Ouachita students have now garnered 14 of the 45 awards in the past three years of the “Speak Simply” contest, the most of any single institution.

“Our students are passionate about their research and communicate it effectively,” said Dr. Marty Perry, OBU’s Nell I. Mondy Professor of Chemistry. “They are well prepared by their faculty mentors as well as the entire Ouachita community that contributes to their overall education.”

Students who presented in the “Speak Simply” division were given two minutes to explain the importance of their individual research projects. They were required to summarize their research simply and free of technical jargon.

“We need to be able to communicate our ideas to patients and policy makers who are not necessarily versed in science,” said Baronger Bieger, a senior biology and English major from Rockwall, Texas. “Science is inherently logical, so anyone should be able to follow what is being done as long as the meaning is distilled into its logical components and not lost in complex, flowery terminology.”

Bieger conducted his research with Dr. Steven Barger from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, studying microglia, cells that keep the brain free of disease-causing clutter, and how they are affected by different proteins known to be associated with Alzheimer’s disease. He explained, “When one protein makes the microglia not clear debris from the brain as effectively, it increases the risk of getting Alzheimer’s. If we can find out what is changing in those microglia to make them less efficient, we might be able to counter it and help prevent Alzheimer’s.”

Having four of the 15 winners of the “Speak Simply” award hail from Ouachita “speaks volumes about the work of not only the undergraduates here, but more so, the work of the professors,” said Rachel Tucker, a junior biology and chemistry major from Fordyce, Ark. “Our professors are very invested in the research that we do, and they want to see us do well. I feel there is a great quality of both students and professors at Ouachita, and the repeated success at contests much like this one are a direct reflection of that.”

Tucker’s research was based on developing a new drug for a new kind of cancer treatment called photodynamic therapy (PDT). She conducted her research with Dr. Joe Bradshaw, professor of chemistry and pre-medical studies at OBU, developing a drug that was tested on live breast cancer cells, ultimately killing the cancer.

“Ouachita always performs well in this competition which shows our students and professors place an emphasis on ensuring the public understands scientific news instead of trying to sound intimidatingly intelligent,” said Dustin Walter, a senior biology and chemistry major from Marion, Ark. “This was a great experience that served as a reminder that people who are not scientists can be interested in my research too if I am willing to communicate it in a way that they can understand.”

Walter said his research focused on the “very small group of people who are infected with HIV but do not show any symptoms, never progress to AIDS nor show deficiency in immune system functions” to see what was different about their immune systems in hopes of developing an HIV vaccine. His research was conducted this past summer at the Ragon Institute in Boston, Mass., with Dr. Srinika Ranasinghe.

Nathan Hall, a junior chemistry and biology major from Jonesboro, Ark., also received the “Speak Simply” award in addition to Bieger, Tucker and Walter.

“The quality of undergraduate research at Ouachita is very high,” Perry added. “The students are skilled, and the projects they explore are at a level that would compete with many graduate programs. It is critical that our students continue to be exposed to cutting-edge science and participate in independent research projects.”

Most of the students spend at least 10 weeks over the summer working on their projects: reading scientific literature, planning and performing experiments, collecting and analyzing data as well as preparing and presenting their findings.

The ACS national meeting is a semi-annual conference that attracts approximately 15,000 academic, industry and government participants from across the nation. In addition to the undergraduate presentations, the meeting hosts a variety of other events, including lectures, workshops and exhibits.

Other Ouachita students who presented their research at the meeting include: Jace Bradshaw, a sophomore biology, chemistry and physics major from Arkadelphia, Ark.; Bailey Chitwood, a senior biology major from North Little Rock, Ark.; Trevor Meece, a junior chemistry and biology major from Arkadelphia, Ark.; Brian Monk, a senior biology major from El Paso, Texas; Paige Onyuru, a senior biology and chemistry major from Hot Springs, Ark.; Rachel Pruett, a senior biology and chemistry major from Harrison, Ark.; Michael Rogers, a senior biology major from Little Rock, Ark.; Sarah Rogers, a senior biology major from Camden, Ark.; and Joel Ubeda, a senior biology major from Shreveport, La.

For more information, contact Dr. Tim Knight at knight@obu.edu or (870) 245-5528.

By Chelsea Whelpley

]]>http://www.obu.edu/news/2015/04/16/ouachita-students-honored-at-american-chemical-society-national-meeting/feed/0Ouachita students earn awards in math and programming competitionshttp://www.obu.edu/news/2015/04/13/ouachita-students-earn-awards-in-math-and-programming-competitions/
http://www.obu.edu/news/2015/04/13/ouachita-students-earn-awards-in-math-and-programming-competitions/#commentsMon, 13 Apr 2015 14:35:49 +0000http://www.obu.edu/news/?p=7824read more →]]>Ouachita Baptist University students from the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science recently earned awards at the Arkansas Undergraduate Mathematics Competition and Acxiom’s Collegiate Programming Contest.

Six Ouachita students competed in the 12th annual Arkansas Undergraduate Mathematics Competition (AUMC), hosted this year by John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Ark. At AUMC, students worked in teams of two, three or four on a three-hour exam consisting of 10 problems over a wide range of difficulty.

The team of Camden Dwelle, a senior mathematics and biology major from Arkadelphia, Ark.; Kaylee Harper, a junior mathematics and secondary education major from Rogers, Ark.; and Hamilton Johnson, a junior physics and computer science major from Little Rock, Ark., finished in a tie for first place out of 10 competing teams. Each member of the team received a $50 prize.

“Winning a competition like this means that I truly am growing in my knowledge and skill in mathematics,” Harper said. “It shows that our math classes are a place of learning and community. We trust each other to work in an environment where we have to be able to move forward in faith when someone knows more or accept critique when a mistake is found without wasting time.”

“This is an excellent opportunity for students to use their mathematical skills cooperatively in a fun atmosphere, as well as to meet other mathematics students from around the state,” said Dr. Jeffery Sykes, Ouachita professor of mathematics and competition organizer.

Nine students competed at the 2015 Collegiate Programming Contest sponsored by Acxiom at the University of Central Arkansas. Teams seek to solve a set of programming problems as quickly and error-free as possible within a five-hour time limit.

The team including Nathan Hill, a junior computer science and applied mathematics major from Bryant, Ark.; Jake Kausler, a senior computer science and biblical languages major from Marion, Ark.; and Nathan Malone, a senior computer science and applied mathematics major from Mayflower, Ark., earned third place out of 12 teams.

“The Acxiom competition is a good way for students to gain some experience outside of class,” said Dr. Jeff Matocha, associate professor of computer science. “They have a good time, but get to see what competition they will have after graduation. The students are very proud of their achievement.”

While some schools train specifically for the competitions, Ouachita students are able to be competitive with only class instruction as a guide. “Being part of a team that can compete at the levels of some of those schools was indeed an accomplishment,” Kausler said. “It also shows that not only can the students make good grades, but they can take their knowledge and apply it to extracurricular situations.”

For more information about the competitions or Ouachita’s mathematics and computer science programs, contact Dr. Jeff Matocha at matochaj@obu.edu or (870) 245-5329 or Dr. Jeff Sykes at sykesj@obu.edu or (870) 245-5328.

By Chelsea Whelpley

]]>http://www.obu.edu/news/2015/04/13/ouachita-students-earn-awards-in-math-and-programming-competitions/feed/0Ouachita faculty Plymale and Reyna incorporate published work into biology courseshttp://www.obu.edu/news/2015/03/30/ouachita-faculty-plymale-and-reyna-incorporate-published-work-into-biology-courses/
http://www.obu.edu/news/2015/03/30/ouachita-faculty-plymale-and-reyna-incorporate-published-work-into-biology-courses/#commentsMon, 30 Mar 2015 14:49:00 +0000http://www.obu.edu/news/?p=7772read more →]]>Dr. Ruth Plymale and Dr. Nathan Reyna, biology faculty at Ouachita Baptist University, contributed research to an article recently published in PLOS ONE, an international, peer-reviewed journal featuring primary research in the sciences.

The article, “Comparative Genomics of Cluster O Mycobacteriophages,” compares DNA of viruses to see how and why they react the way they do. More than 50 scientists from universities across the U.S. and South Africa contributed research to the project, with each university analyzing certain aspects of each virus separately. The article brought their findings together to compare the reactions.

Reyna described the experience as “looking at different verse translations of the Bible,” he said. “Our job was to analyze verses, or viruses, to see how it was written and see how similar or different their punctuation or grammar was side by side.”

Plymale and Reyna completed their research for the article at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and continue similar research with students on Ouachita’s campus. Ouachita was invited in 2011 to join the HHMI’s Science Education Alliance PHAGES project, which gives freshman undergraduate students the opportunity to complete hands-on research and contribute to the field of genomics. Ouachita was one of 12 universities nation-wide to be selected for the program that year and is the only school in Arkansas to be chosen to participate to date.

Dr. Tim Knight, dean of Ouachita’s Patterson School of Natural Sciences, said he views these research-driven classes as “cutting-edge courses” that provide great value to Ouachita students. Plymale also affirmed the value of the program, saying, “The students are learning how to manage the information they find, which is a skill that will be useful to them and to us in the future.”

“I believe Ouachita has a better program than anybody else in the state as far as research experience for undergraduates, and it’s because the faculty are willing to help the students succeed every day,” Knight added. “I have no doubt that we are providing a better education, especially with biology, and that students are leaving far better prepared than they were 10 years ago.”

Plymale, assistant professor of biology, joined the Ouachita faculty in 2009 and currently researches the environmental influences on biofilm formation. She earned her Ph.D. from Pennsylvania State University and her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Arkansas.

Reyna, associate professor of biology, joined the Ouachita faculty in 2008 and is researching plant signal transduction in relation to biotic and abiotic stress. He earned his Ph.D. and master’s degrees from the University of Arkansas and his Bachelor of Science degree from College of the Ozarks.

“The INBRE grants awarded to Dr. Hensley and Dr. Perry help us primarily in our undergraduate research program because the funding will provide for a minimum of 15-20 students during the lifetime of the grant,” said Dr. Tim Knight, dean of the Patterson School of Natural Sciences. “Additionally, the grant recognizes the quality work of both Dr. Hensley and Dr. Perry as well as the excellence of our research program.”

Ouachita faculty members received two of the nine INBRE grants awarded in Arkansas. “It’s always nice to have your scientific ideas recognized by your peers,” said Dr. Perry, OBU’s Nell I. Mondy Professor of Chemistry. “More importantly, I was thrilled for the students at Ouachita who will benefit the most from the research opportunities these grant funds provide.”

Dr. Perry, who has also been awarded INBRE grants in the past, cited that “Ouachita has been extremely fortunate to be associated with the Arkansas INBRE program for over a dozen years.” The faculty in Ouachita’s biology, chemistry and physics departments began to emphasize and require research projects for all students about the time of the initial INBRE funding. “The INBRE funding advanced our progress at a rate that would not have been possible otherwise through allowing us to purchase cutting-edge scientific instruments and supplies,” Perry said.

“It is important for the sciences and our students at Ouachita to continue to thrive through funding and participation with the INBRE program,” added Hensley, who holds the J.D. Patterson Chair of Biology and has received funding from INBRE since 2003. “Additionally, the grant allows me to work on a disease about which I am passionate and share that experience with my students.

Perry and his students will use the grant to continue exploring the interactions of drugs with human proteins using computer software and molecular modeling. The goal of the research is to determine why the molecules react in certain ways through examining the molecular structure of the proteins as they metabolize the drugs. Hensley’s research is focused on finding new therapeutic options for a pediatric cancer called Ewing’s sarcoma. She and her students have designed experiments to demonstrate how a class of compounds called cannabinoids might provide targeted therapy for cancer cells with mutations specific to Ewing’s sarcoma.

Along with providing money for equipment, supplies and software, the funding also will give students the opportunity to continue traveling to professional meetings to present research results and network with other scientists.

“Students benefit greatly from the entire experience from literature review and software tutorials all the way through presenting and publishing their results,” Perry said. “They learn that science is not just about learning facts and memorizing equations. It is about exploring, creating and communicating with a community.”

Perry, who has taught at Ouachita since 1998, holds degrees from Arkansas Tech University and Oklahoma State University. Hensley has taught at Ouachita since 2002. She holds degrees from Bowling Green State University and the University of Tennessee-Memphis.

For more information, contact Dr. Tim Knight at knightt@obu.edu or (870) 245-5528.

By McKenzie Cranford

]]>http://www.obu.edu/news/2015/03/16/ouachita-professors-awarded-grants-for-undergraduate-research/feed/0Ouachita natural science students bring back awards from Arkansas INBRE conferencehttp://www.obu.edu/news/2014/12/02/ouachita-natural-science-students-bring-back-awards-arkansas-inbre-conference/
http://www.obu.edu/news/2014/12/02/ouachita-natural-science-students-bring-back-awards-arkansas-inbre-conference/#commentsTue, 02 Dec 2014 20:16:17 +0000http://www.obu.edu/news/?p=7453read more →]]>Two Ouachita Baptist University natural science students received awards for their presentations at the annual Arkansas IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) research conference held recently in Fayetteville.

Winning awards were seniors Kelley Ballard, a biology major from Colleyville, Texas, and Baronger Bieger, a biology and English double major from Rockwall, Texas. Bieger was awarded first place in biology poster presentations among the 83 biology posters at the conference and Ballard received second place for her biology oral presentation.

“Kelley and Baronger are both confident and good communicators,” noted Dr. Tim Knight, dean of OBU’s Patterson School of Natural Sciences. “The faculty worked with them and prepared them, but the students did a great job of actually presenting their work. We are very proud of them!”

Baronger Bieger

Kelley Ballard

In total, 20 Ouachita students gave biology, chemistry and physics presentations alongside students from 27 educational institutions across Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Tennessee.

“Completing a research project requires that the students connect concepts and ideas from many different courses,” Knight explained. “The opportunity to attend a conference and present your findings is the icing on the cake.”

Bieger’s research, titled “Effects of Apolipoprotein E on Alternatively Activated Microglia,” came out of his research with University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences professor Dr. Stephen Barger.

“Since I’m a relative newcomer to the sciences, getting first place in the biology poster presentations was exciting because it made me feel I have begun to get my scientific feet underneath me,” Bieger said. “Although winning the award was nice, the most rewarding part of the conference was being able to present and discuss my research with like-minded and curious people who use their unique perspective to make brilliant connections and suggestions. What could be more fun?”

Ballard’s research presentation, “The Effects of Ajulemic Acid on Cell Viability and Angiogenesis in Ewing’s Sarcoma Tumors,” was a result of research she performed this summer as part of Ouachita’s Patterson Summer Research Program with Dr. Lori Hensley, professor of biology and holder of the J.D. Patterson Chair of Biology.

“It meant so much to get the award after putting much hard work into the research,” Ballard said. “I get nervous for public speaking, so this was an attempt to take the fear head on and present the great results we found, which I believe are extremely relevant research.”

Other students representing Ouachita at the conference included: Jordan Burt, a senior biology major from Texarkana, Texas; Bailey Chitwood, a senior biology major from North Little Rock, Ark.; Tyler Fugere, a senior biology major from Benton, Ark.; Nathan Hall, a junior biology major and chemistry double major from Jonesboro, Ark.; Brad-Hunter Heird, a senior dietetics and nutrition major from Pine Bluff, Ark.; Jesse Kitchens, a junior biology major from Lewisville, Ark.; Joseph Koon, a senior biology major from Hensley, Ark.; Logan Kuhn, a senior biology major from Little Rock, Ark.; Neelie Lee, a senior biology major from Glenwood, Ark.; Jeb Little, a senior biology major from Warren, Ark.; Trevor Meece, a junior biology and chemistry double major from Arkadelphia, Ark.; Brian Monk, a senior biology major from El Paso, Texas; Alex Morrison, a senior dietetics and nutrition major from Monticello, Ark.; Paige Onyuru, a senior biology and chemistry double major from Hot Springs, Ark.; Rachel Pruett, a senior biology and chemistry double major from Harrison, Ark.; Sarah Rogers, a senior biology major from Camden, Ark.; Colby Smith, a senior biology major from Texarkana, Texas; and Joel Ubeda, a senior biology major from Shreveport, La. Hendrix student Stephen Shrum also presented research he conducted through Ouachita’s Patterson Summer Research Program.

In addition to Knight, Hensley and Perry, other professors who served as research mentors include: Dr. Detri Brech, professor of dietetics; Dr. Robert Griffin, associate professor of radiation oncology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; Dr. Tim Hayes, associate professor of chemistry; Dr. Sara Hubbard, assistant professor of chemistry; Dr. Nathan Reyna, associate professor of biology; Dr. Douglas Rhoads, professor of biological sciences at the University of Arkansas; and Dr. Jim Taylor, professor of biology.

For more information, contact Dr. Tim Knight at knight@obu.edu or (870) 245-5528.

The new program, available to incoming freshmen beginning in the fall of 2015, is the first of its kind in the region, according to Dr. Lori Hensley, Ouachita’s J.D. Patterson Professor of Biology.

According to Hensley, the university’s recent shift to 120-hour degree programs “makes a three-year degree much more possible.”

“With much national attention on student debt and time to graduation,” she added, “this program allows us to offer a meaningful degree that is packed with experiential learning while saving the student one year of time and tuition expenses.”

Participants in the Biomedical Scholars Program will earn a Bachelor of Science degree in biomedical sciences with a minor in chemistry. Components of the high-intensity program include clinical shadowing, experimental research, study abroad options, community service and mentoring designed to equip graduates for professional degree programs.

The competitive academic program will be limited to 10 incoming students per academic year. Application requirements include a 30 ACT or higher and at least six hours of transferrable college credit prior to admission as a Ouachita freshman.

“Six or more transferable hours accomplishes two things,” explained Dr. Tim Knight, dean of Ouachita’s Patterson School of Natural Sciences. “First, it has hopefully given the student a taste of college level course work as opposed to the typical high school. Second, bringing in two or more college level courses provides flexibility in scheduling, especially in the first year.”

“Having the six hours will allow students to earn the required 120 hours in the three-year period while still allowing time to study abroad and complete summer research,” Hensley added. “Additionally, we are really looking for the kind of student who has thought ahead, is preparing for college and is already demonstrating that they are highly motivated and capable of more than the average high school student.”

Knight said practical benefits of the program include “immediate immersion in shadowing experience as well as research-based courses and labs.” He noted that students in most programs don’t have those opportunities until their sophomore or junior years.

Hensley said additional benefits for students are that “they can start the professional program of their choice a full year earlier, and they save a full year of tuition.”

The Biomedical Scholars Program “is not for everyone,” Knight acknowledged. He said it is specifically designed “for those students who are really focused and have a firm desire to pursue professional school after their undergraduate experience.”

“We believe that students who are exposed to the experiential opportunities in this program will make better healthcare professionals,” Hensley concluded. “Students should consider this program if they are high-achieving and can’t wait to get on to the career of their dreams. We can help them get there faster and with a more impressive application.”

For more information about Ouachita’s Biomedical Scholars Program or the application process, contact Dr. Lori Hensley, chair of the biology department, at hensleyl@obu.edu or 870-245-5529 or visit www.obu.edu/biology/biomed.